JP2006137002A - Judgment of printing material container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To distinguish kinds of printing material containers without adding new elements for distinguishing the kinds to the printing material containers. <P>SOLUTION: A printer 20 carries out an ink quantity detection process via a cartridge processing control circuit 100 and sensor control circuits M20a and M20b. A control circuit 20 stores an information about whether or not ink quantity detection terminals 114 and 115 are detected in a memory, for every ink cartridge 70 being an object of the ink quantity detection process. A control circuit 40 executes a cartridge judgment module M50 and judges the kind of the ink cartridge 70 according to a combination of the detected ink quantity detection terminals. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for determining the type of a printing material container and a method for determining the type of a printing material collection body.

In a printing apparatus (for example, an ink jet printer) in which a plurality of printing material containers (for example, ink cartridges) that store printing materials are mounted, a predetermined printing material container needs to be mounted at a predetermined position. In order to satisfy this requirement, conventionally, for example, by attaching an identification mark to the surface of the printing material container, or the physical external shape of the printing material container and the physical shape of the printing material collector mounting portion The type of the print material collector has been determined based on the match / mismatch. There is also known a technique for identifying a type of a printing material collection body by attaching a storage element for storing identification information to the printing material collection body and reading the identification information from the storage element.
JP-A-6-320818

  However, when changing the external shape of the printing material collection body for each type of printing material collection body, the original type must be taken into account when reusing the printing material collection body. There is a problem that decreases. Further, in the technique using the identification information, there is a problem that a storage element has to be attached to the printing material collector.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to determine the type of a printing material container without adding a new element for identifying the type of the printing material container. And

  In order to solve at least a part of the above problem, a first aspect of the present invention is a printing material container that contains a printing material and a detected terminal that is used to detect the amount of printing material that is contained. A printing apparatus that can be attached is provided. The printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a detection terminal for detecting the amount of printing material accommodated in the printing material container, and the detection terminal when the printing material container is mounted. And a printing material container determining unit that detects contact or non-contact between the detected terminal and the type of the printing material container.

  According to the printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the type of the printing material container is determined by detecting contact or non-contact between the detection terminal and the detected terminal. The type of the print container can be determined without adding a new element for identifying the type.

  In the printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus includes a plurality of detection terminals, the printing material container includes one or more detected terminals, and the printing material. The container determination unit may determine the type of the printing material container based on a contact state between the plurality of detection terminals and the one or more detected terminals. In such a case, the number (type) of print material containers that can be determined can be increased.

  The printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention further applies a voltage to the detected terminal through the plurality of detection terminals, and is accommodated in the printing material collector based on the voltage returned from the detected terminal. A printing material amount detection unit that detects the amount of printing material that is present, and the printing material container determination unit includes a detection terminal that detects a voltage returned from the detected terminal among the plurality of detection terminals; and The type of the printing material container may be determined using a combination with a detection terminal that does not detect the voltage returned from the detected terminal as the contact mode. In such a case, the type of the printing material container can be determined using the detection result of the printing material amount.

  In the printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the type of the printing material container may be an initial amount of the printing material to be stored, a capacity type of the printing material container, or The type of printing material to be accommodated may be used.

  The second aspect of the present invention accommodates a printing material and can be mounted with a printing material container having a sensor for detecting the amount of printing material accommodated and a detected terminal connected to the sensor. A printing apparatus is provided. A printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a detection terminal for detecting a printing material amount accommodated in the printing material container, and the sensor with respect to the detected terminal via the detection terminal. A drive voltage output circuit that outputs a drive voltage to drive the signal, and the detection terminal and the detected terminal based on a response voltage from the sensor with respect to the output drive voltage received by the detection terminal And a printing material container determining unit that determines the type of the printing material container based on the detected contact state.

  According to the printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, contact or non-contact between the detection terminal and the detected terminal is performed based on the response voltage from the sensor with respect to the output drive voltage received by the detection terminal. Since the type of the printing material container is detected based on the detected contact state, the type of the printing material is determined without adding a new element for identifying the type of the printing material collection body. Can be determined.

  In the printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus includes a plurality of the detection terminals, and the printing material container includes one or more detected terminals and a ground terminal. The printing material container determination unit may determine the type of the printing material collection body using the number of the detection terminals from which the response voltage is detected as the contact mode among the plurality of detection terminals. . In such a case, the number (type) of print material containers that can be determined can be increased.

  In the printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the sensor may be a sensor that detects a remaining amount of the printing material using a piezoelectric element. In such a case, the remaining amount of the printing material can be detected based on the vibration frequency of the piezoelectric element obtained as the response voltage.

  In the printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the type of the printing material container may be an initial amount of the printing material to be stored, a capacity type of the printing material container, or The type of printing material to be accommodated may be used.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing material container that has a detected terminal that is used to detect the amount of the printing material that is accommodated and contains the printing material, and that can be used by being mounted on a printing apparatus. A method for determining the type is provided. The method according to the third aspect of the present invention detects the presence or absence of contact between a detection terminal provided in a printing apparatus and the detected terminal when the printing material container is mounted, and the detection The type of the mounted printing material container is determined based on the presence or absence of contact.

  According to the method of the third aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained, and the method according to the third aspect of the present invention is the present invention. In the same manner as the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the present invention can be realized in various aspects.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the printing material is accommodated, and includes a sensor for detecting the amount of the printing material accommodated, and a detected terminal connected to the sensor, and is attached to the printing apparatus. A method for determining the type of printing material container that can be used. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for outputting a driving voltage to drive the sensor with respect to the detected terminal via a detection terminal provided in a printing apparatus and received by the detection terminal. Detecting contact or non-contact between the detection terminal and the detected terminal based on a response voltage from the sensor with respect to the output drive voltage, and storing the printing material based on the detected contact state. It is characterized by determining the type of body.

  According to the method of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention can be obtained, and the method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the present invention. In the same manner as the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, the present invention can be realized in various aspects.

  Hereinafter, a method for determining a type of a printing apparatus and a printing material container according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

A. Printer and cartridge configuration:
A schematic configuration of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus 20 according to the embodiment.

  The printing apparatus 20 includes a sub-scan feed mechanism, a main scan feed mechanism, a head drive mechanism, and a control circuit 40 for driving and controlling these mechanisms.

  The sub-scan feed mechanism includes a paper feed motor 22 and a gear train 23. The sub-scan feed mechanism conveys the printing paper P in the sub-scan direction by transmitting the rotation of the paper feed motor 22 to the platen 26 via the gear train 23.

  The main scanning feed mechanism has an endless drive belt 36 stretched between the carriage motor 24, the carriage motor 24, a slide shaft 34 that is installed in parallel with the axis of the platen 26, and slidably holds the carriage 30. And a position sensor 39 for detecting the origin position of the carriage 30. The main scanning feed mechanism reciprocates the carriage 30 in the axial direction (main scanning direction) of the platen 26 by the carriage motor 24.

  The head drive mechanism controls the dot formation on the print medium by driving the print head unit 60 mounted on the carriage 30 to control ink ejection.

  The control circuit 40 is connected to the paper feed motor 22, the carriage motor 24, the print head unit 60 and the operation panel 32 via signal lines, and is connected to the computer 90 via a connector 56. The control circuit 40 drives the paper feed motor 22, the carriage motor 24, and the print head unit 60 according to instructions from the computer 90 and the operation panel 32 or according to various programs stored in the control circuit 40.

  With reference to FIG. 2, an aspect of mounting the ink cartridge to the print head unit 60 will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an aspect of mounting the ink cartridge to the print head unit. The print head unit 60 is a dedicated circuit that executes a process related to the cartridge mounting unit 62 that can mount a plurality of (for example, eight in this embodiment) ink cartridges 70, the print head 68, and the ink cartridges 70. And a cartridge processing circuit 61 (not shown in FIG. 2).

  The cartridge mounting portion 62 includes a guide 65, ink introducing portions 66 and terminal plates 100 for the number of ink cartridges that can be mounted. The guide 65 has a function of preventing each ink cartridge 70 from being inserted in a predetermined insertion direction R and inserted from other directions.

  The ink introduction part 66 is inserted into the ink supply port 74 of the ink cartridge 70 described above when the ink cartridge 70 is attached to the cartridge attachment part 62, and introduces ink into the print head 68. Various terminals corresponding to terminals arranged on a circuit board 110 of the ink cartridge 70 described later are arranged on the terminal board 100.

  Next, the ink cartridge 70 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the ink cartridge 70 is a container that stores one type of ink as a printing material. The ink cartridge 70 includes a casing 71 for storing ink therein, an ink supply port 74 for supplying ink to the printing apparatus 20, a sensor 72 used for detecting the remaining amount of ink, and various terminals described later. The circuit board 110 is disposed. The ink supply port 74 is installed at the lower part of the casing 71, and the sensor 72 is installed at the side of the casing 71. In this embodiment, the sensor 72 uses a piezoelectric element.

  The circuit board 110 is installed on the outer surface of the housing 71. Thereby, various terminals described later are arranged on the surface of the casing 71. The circuit board 110 is disposed in a region about ½ of the outer surface on the insertion direction side (lower side in this embodiment). Of course, it is good also as arrange | positioning in the area | region in the insertion direction side, about 1/3, and about 1/4. The circuit board 110 is provided with various terminals corresponding to the terminals provided on the terminal board 110 of the cartridge mounting portion 62 described above.

  The circuit board 110 is disposed at a position facing the terminal board 110 of the cartridge mounting portion 62 described above when the ink cartridge 70 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 62. Thus, when the ink cartridge 70 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 62, the contacted terminal on the circuit board 110 of the ink cartridge 70 and the corresponding contact terminal on the terminal plate 100 of the cartridge mounting portion 62 contact each other. It is configured to do. In this specification, the contacted terminal corresponding to the contact terminal refers to a contacted terminal that contacts one contact terminal when the ink cartridge 70 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 62 (however, it contacts in a normal state). Refers to terminals, and does not include terminals that come into contact by mistake due to mounting displacement or ink adhesion.

  With reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the arrangement of the terminals of the terminal board 100 and the circuit board 110 in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 shows the contact terminal arrangement of the terminal plate 100 of the cartridge mounting portion 62 as seen from the direction of the arrow Y2 in FIG. FIG. 4 shows the contact terminal arrangement of the circuit board 110 of the ink cartridge 70 as viewed from the direction of the arrow Y1 in FIG.

  First, the contact terminals provided on the terminal plate 100 of the cartridge mounting portion 62 will be described. The terminal board 100 includes three cartridge detection terminals 101 to 103 for a cartridge detection circuit M10, which will be described later, and three ink amount detection terminals 104, 105, 106 for a sensor control circuit M20, which will be described later. The three cartridge detection terminals 101 to 103 are arranged so as to form one row as shown by a two-dot broken line in FIG. Of the three cartridge contact terminals 101 to 103, the terminal 101 and the terminal 103 are terminals for detecting the presence or absence of contact with the contacted terminal 117 of the ink cartridge 70 described later (hereinafter referred to as contact detection terminals 101 and 103). And the terminal 102 is a ground terminal.

  The three ink amount detection terminals 104, 105, and 106 are arranged so as to form a different row from the three cartridge detection terminals 101 to 103, as indicated by broken lines in FIG. Of the three ink amount detection terminals 104, 105, and 106, the terminals 104 and 105 are terminals (hereinafter referred to as sensor terminals) that output a drive voltage to the sensor 72 under the control of a sensor control circuit M20 described later. The terminal 106 is a ground terminal.

  With reference to FIG. 4, the contacted terminals provided on the circuit board 110 of the ink cartridge 70 will be described. In this embodiment, the circuit board 110 has three types 110a to 110c as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, and the ink cartridge 70 has an ink type and an initial ink amount (initial value). A circuit board 110 of a predetermined type according to the filling amount) and the cartridge capacity is arranged. In this embodiment, the circuit board 110a shown in FIG. 4A is arranged in an L size cartridge (hereinafter also referred to as an L cartridge) having a large amount of ink according to the amount of ink contained in the ink cartridge 70. Is done. A circuit board 110b shown in FIG. 4B is arranged in a standard M size cartridge (hereinafter also referred to as an M cartridge), and an S size cartridge (hereinafter also referred to as an S cartridge) having a small ink amount. 4), a circuit board 110c shown in FIG.

  The circuit board 110 a includes ink amount detected terminals 114, 115, and 116 corresponding to the three ink amount detection terminals 104 to 106 of the terminal board 100 described above, and one substantially rectangular contacted terminal 116. Yes. A substantially rectangular terminal 117 is a terminal for conducting the three cartridge detection terminals 101 to 103.

  The circuit board 110b includes ink amount detection terminals 114 and 116 corresponding to the three ink amount detection terminals 104 and 106 of the terminal board 100 described above, and a single substantially rectangular contact terminal 117, respectively. The circuit board 110c includes ink amount detection terminals 115 and 116 corresponding to the three ink amount detection terminals 105 and 106 of the terminal board 100 described above, and a single substantially rectangular contact terminal 117, respectively.

  The terminals 117 of the circuit boards 110a to 110c are contacted terminals (hereinafter referred to as detection terminals) for detecting contact with the contact detection terminals 101 and 103 described above. The terminals 114 and 115 of the circuit boards 110 a to 110 c are connected to the driving electrodes of the sensor 72 and are contacted terminals that are in contact with the above-described sensor terminals 104 and 105. The terminal 116 is a ground electrode of the sensor 72. And a contacted terminal that contacts the ground terminal 106 described above.

B. Cartridge processing circuit configuration:
The schematic configuration of the cartridge processing dedicated circuit will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of the cartridge processing dedicated circuit. In FIG. 5, for convenience of explanation, the electrical configuration of the ink cartridge 70 on which the above-described circuit board 110 a is arranged is also shown. FIG. 5 shows only the configuration corresponding to one ink cartridge 70 for convenience of explanation.

  The cartridge processing dedicated circuit 61 is a circuit provided in the printing apparatus 20 separately from the control circuit 40 in order to execute various processes on the ink cartridge 70. The cartridge processing dedicated circuit 61 includes two cartridge detection circuits M10 (referred to as M10a and M10b, respectively) driven by using a low voltage of 3.3V, and a relatively high voltage (from the sensor terminals 104 and 105). In the present embodiment, sensor control circuits M20a and M20b for controlling a maximum voltage of 45V) and a cartridge processing control unit M100 for controlling these circuits are provided.

  The cartridge detection circuit M10a has a function as a contact detection circuit that detects the presence / absence of contact between the contact detection terminal 101 described above and the detection terminal 117 (see FIG. 4) of the ink cartridge 70. The cartridge detection circuit M10b is a circuit having a function as a contact detection circuit that detects the presence or absence of contact between the other contact detection terminal 103 and the detection terminal 117 (see FIG. 4) of the ink cartridge 70.

  In this embodiment, when nothing is in contact with the contact detection terminal 101 (hereinafter referred to as “released”), the potential of the contact detection terminal 101 is set to about 3V. When the ink cartridge 70 having the circuit board 100a is mounted and the contact detection terminal 101 comes into contact with the detection terminal 117 (hereinafter referred to as contact), the contact detection terminal 101 is electrically connected to the ground terminal 102, and the contact detection terminal 101 is connected. The potential drops to about 0V.

  Accordingly, when the contact detection terminal 101 is released, the cartridge detection circuits M10a and M10b output a high signal as the cartridge detection signals CO1 and CO2, and when the contact detection terminal 101 is in contact, output a low signal as the cartridge detection signals CO1 and CO2. To do.

  The cartridge processing control unit M100 controls the entire cartridge processing circuit 61, and exchanges signals (data, instruction signals, etc.) with the control circuit 40 that controls the entire printing apparatus 20. Specifically, the cartridge processing control unit M100 causes the sensor control circuits M20a and M20b to detect the remaining ink amount in accordance with an instruction from the control circuit 40, and outputs the detection result as data to the control circuit 40. Further, the cartridge processing control unit M100 outputs the received cartridge detection signals CO1 and CO2 to the control circuit 40. The cartridge processing control unit M100 may be configured by a logic circuit or a general-purpose processor.

  The sensor control circuits M20a and M20b are circuits that control the voltage output from the sensor terminals 104 and 105 in accordance with an instruction from the cartridge processing control unit M100, and cause the sensor 72 to detect the ink remaining amount or the ink consumption amount. In the following description, the sensor control circuit M20a will be described as an example in order to simplify the description, but the following description also applies to the sensor control circuit M20b.

  The sensor control circuit M20a includes two transistors Tr1 and Tr2, two resistors R1 and R2, an amplifier 232, a comparator 234, a count control unit 235, a counter 236, and an analog switch 237. The sensor control circuit M20a also has a signal line for inputting the charging signal CS from the cartridge processing control unit 100 to the transistor Tr1, and a signal line for inputting the discharging signal DS from the cartridge processing control unit 100 to the transistor Tr2. I have. Further, the sensor control circuit M20a has a signal line for inputting the signal CC to the count control unit 235, a signal line for inputting the count clock CLK output from an oscillator (not shown) to the counter 236, and an output signal (output) of the counter 236. Value) A signal line for outputting SD1 to the cartridge processing control unit 100 and a signal line for inputting the switching signal SC to the analog switch 237 are provided.

  The transistor Tr1 is a PNP transistor, the base is connected to the cartridge processing control unit 100, and the emitter is connected to the voltage generation unit 238. The collector is connected to the analog switch 237 via the resistor R1. On the other hand, the transistor Tr2 is an NPN transistor, the base is connected to the cartridge processing control unit 100, and the collector is connected to the analog switch 237 via the resistor R2. The emitter is grounded. Since the two transistors Tr1 and Tr2 are a PNP type and an NPN type, the transistor Tr1 is turned on when the charge signal CS is lowered, and the transistor Tr2 is turned on when the discharge signal DS is set high.

  The first terminal at one end of the analog switch 237 is connected to the connection point between the resistor R1 and the resistor R2, the second terminal is connected to the amplifier 232, and the other end is connected to the ink amount detection terminal 104. Yes. Resistor R1 and resistor R2 are connected to voltage generator 238 and the ground line via transistors Tr1 and Tr2. The amplifier 232 is further connected to the comparator 234, and the output terminal of the comparator 234 is connected to the count control unit 235. A reference voltage Vref is input to the comparator 234. An output terminal of the count control unit 235 is connected to the counter 236. The output terminal of the counter 236 is connected to the cartridge processing control unit 100.

  The sensor 72 provided in the ink cartridge 70 supplies electric energy by a supply circuit including a voltage generation unit 238, a transistor Tr1, and a resistor R1 through an ink amount detection terminal 104 and an ink amount detection terminal 114. And charged. The sensor 72 also discharges the electric charge accumulated by the discharge circuit including the resistor R2-transistor Tr2-ground line through the ink amount detection terminal 104 and the ink amount detected terminal 114.

The resistor R1 used at the time of charging is a resistor having a larger resistance value than the resistor R2 used at the time of discharging. The resistance value r1 of the resistor R1 and the resistance value r2 of the resistor R2 were determined as follows. In the sensor 72 using a piezoelectric element, mechanical distortion occurs due to an electrostrictive effect when electric charges are accumulated. When the electric charge accumulated in the sensor 72 is discharged, the distortion is released in proportion to the amount of energy released per unit time, and the sensor 72 is vibrated. Since the amount of ink is detected using this vibration, it is desired to increase the energy released per unit time. Therefore, the resistance value r2 is made as small as possible. Since the on-resistance of the transistor Tr2 and the like exist, the impedance rd of the discharge circuit cannot be 0, so the resistor R2 may not be actually provided (r2 = 0). On the other hand, the supply of electric energy to the sensor 72 (actually charging via the transistor Tr1) is ultimately limited by the energy that the voltage generator 238 can output per unit time. Even if the circuit resistance of the supply circuit is reduced, the current supplied by the internal resistance of the voltage generator 238 is actually limited. Therefore, the resistance value r1 of the resistor R1 is determined by the circuit resistance rc of the supply circuit to the sensor 72 using the output voltage V of the voltage generation unit 238 and the upper limit value imax of the current that can be easily extracted from the generation unit 238. ,
rc = V / imax
It is determined that Specifically, using the on-resistance rON of the transistor Tr1 and the wiring resistance rr of the circuit, r1 = rc−rON−rr
It may be determined as In this embodiment, the impedance rc of the supply circuit and the impedance rd of the discharge circuit are
rc> rd
Therefore, the energy supplied from the voltage generator 238 per unit time can be made considerably smaller than the energy released per unit time during discharge. Accordingly, the energy required for the sensor 72 to detect the ink amount is accumulated over time, and is released in a short time, so that the detection power can be obtained while using the voltage generator 238 having a small energy supply capability. A sufficient resonance phenomenon can be generated in the sensor 72.

  The configuration corresponding to one ink cartridge 70 has been described above for the cartridge processing dedicated circuit 61. In the present embodiment, since eight ink cartridges 70 are mounted, the two cartridge detection circuits M10a and M10b described above are provided in total, two for each cartridge. Also, a total of 16 sensor control circuits M20a and M20b are provided for each cartridge. One cartridge processing control unit M100 executes processing related to eight ink cartridges.

  The control circuit 40 is a known computer including a central processing unit (CPU) 41, a memory 42, and an input / output port (I / O) 43. The memory 42 is provided with a cartridge determination module M50 that determines the type of ink cartridge 70 and the presence or absence of the ink cartridge 70 using the ink amount detection signals SD1 and SD2 received from the cartridge processing circuit 61. The control circuit 40 executes various modules (not shown) stored in the memory 42 to control various operations of the printing apparatus 20.

C. Ink amount detection processing:
With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the ink amount detection process in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing routine executed in the ink amount detection processing in this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a time chart showing temporal changes in the charge signal CS, the discharge signal DS, the remaining ink terminal voltage, the post-amplifier voltage, the comparator output, and the count clock in the ink amount detection process. In the following description, the sensor control circuit M20a will be described as an example, but the same applies to the sensor control circuit M20b. In the ink amount detection process, for example, after the process by the sensor control circuit M20a is executed, the process by the sensor control circuit M20b is executed. That is, the ink amount detection process is sequentially executed by the two sensor control circuits M20a and M20b.

  In the initial state, both the charge signal CS and the discharge signal DS are high, the transistor Tr1 is turned off, and the transistor Tr2 is turned on. Therefore, the sensor 72 is grounded via the transistor Tr2, and no charge is accumulated. When the ink amount detection using the sensor 72 is started, the cartridge processing control unit 100 sets the discharge signal DS to low and turns off the transistor Tr2 (step S100). Further, the cartridge processing control unit 100 sends a switching signal SC to the analog switch 237, and switches the analog switch 237 so that the voltage generation unit 238 and the ink amount detection terminal 104 are connected (step S102).

  When the time t1 has elapsed, the cartridge processing control unit 100 sets the charging signal CS to low and turns on the transistor Tr1 (step S104). Therefore, in the sections t1 to t2, the voltage generated by the voltage generation unit 238 is applied to the sensor 72 via the ink amount detection terminal 104 and the ink amount detection terminal 114, and charges are accumulated in the sensor 72. . As a result, the terminal voltage of the sensor 72 gradually increases to the voltage generated by the voltage generator 238. At this time, since charging is performed via the resistor R1, the energy accumulated per unit time is smaller than the energy per unit time of discharging performed via the resistor R2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the gradient at the time of charging has a gentler waveform than the gradient at the time of discharging. The charged sensor 72 accumulates electrical energy and mechanical strain therein. That is, the sensor SS is deformed by the electrostrictive effect (reverse piezoelectric effect).

  When the time t2 elapses, the cartridge processing control unit 100 turns the transistor Tr1 off by setting the charging signal CS high (step S106), and turns on the transistor Tr2 by setting the discharge signal DS high when the time t3 elapses (step S108). Further, the cartridge processing control unit 100 sends a switching signal SC to the analog switch 237, and switches the analog switch 237 so that the amplifier 232 and the ink amount detection terminal 104 are connected (step S110).

  As a result, in the sections t3 to t4, the transistor Tr2 is turned on, and the charge accumulated in the sensor 72 is discharged through the ink amount detected terminal 114, the ink amount detection terminal 104, and the resistor R2. In this embodiment, in order to avoid both the transistors Tr1 and Tr2 from being turned on, sections t2 to t3 in which both transistors are turned off are provided. Due to this discharge, the sensor 72 is deformed by releasing mechanical strain accumulated therein by charging. Since no voltage is applied to the sensor 72, the sensor 72 can freely vibrate, and free vibration is caused at the resonance frequency by the accumulated mechanical energy. Even if the vibration is free, the sensor 72 is not deformed, and a voltage (response voltage) is generated at both ends of the sensor 72.

  This voltage change is amplified by the amplifier 232 and output to the comparator 234. The comparator 234 compares the amplified voltage change with a predetermined reference voltage Vref, converts it into two signals of high / low, and outputs the two signals to the count control unit 235. The count control unit 235 outputs a count control signal for enabling the operation of the counter 236 for a period of 5 pulses of the output signal from the comparator 234 after the resonance of the sensor 72 (piezoelectric element) starts in accordance with the input signal CC. Generate. The counter 236 counts the number of pulses using the input count clock CLK while the count control signal is high (count enable). The count value of the counter 236 is sent to the cartridge processing control unit 100 and sent to the control circuit 40 (step S112). The control circuit 40 calculates the vibration frequency of the sensor 72 from the count value of the counter 236, measures the amount of ink in the cartridge 70 (step S114), and ends this processing routine.

  That is, the detected vibration frequency represents the natural frequency of the surrounding structural body (the casing 71 and ink) that vibrates together with the piezoelectric element, and changes according to the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge. Therefore, the ink amount can be detected by measuring the vibration frequency. The control circuit 40 stores the ink amount detection result (the ink amount detected terminals 114 and 115 that have responded) in the memory.

D. Ink cartridge determination processing:
The ink cartridge type determination process for determining the type of the ink cartridge will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing routine executed in the ink cartridge type determination processing according to this embodiment. In this ink cartridge determination process, the type determination of the ink cartridge 70 according to the present embodiment uses the detection result (presence / absence of response voltage) from the sensor 72 that is originally used to detect the amount of ink in the ink cartridge 70. And executed. The type determination process of the ink cartridge 70 is executed, for example, at the timing when the ink cartridge 70 is replaced or when the ink amount detection process is executed. That is,

  When the control circuit 40 executes the ink amount determination processing by the cartridge control circuits M20a and M20b via the cartridge processing control unit 100, the ink amount detected terminal 114 (hereinafter also referred to as the terminal A) for each ink cartridge 70. ), 115 (hereinafter also referred to as terminal B) is stored in the memory (whether the response voltage is received). This processing routine is executed based on the detection results of the terminals A and B stored in the memory.

  The control circuit 40 executes the cartridge determination module M50 to determine whether or not the terminal A has been detected in the ink cartridge 70 to be determined (step S200). When it is determined that the terminal A is detected (step S200: Yes), the control circuit 40 determines whether or not the terminal B is detected in the ink cartridge 70 to be determined (step S201).

  When the control circuit 40 determines that the terminal B has been detected (step S201: Yes), the control circuit 40 determines that the ink cartridge 70 to be determined is the ink cartridge L (step S202), and ends this processing routine. To do. That is, the case where the ink cartridge 70 includes the ink amount detected terminals 114 and 115 as shown in FIG.

  When the control circuit 40 determines that the terminal B has not been detected (step S201: No), the control circuit 40 determines that the determination target ink cartridge 70 is the ink cartridge M (step S203), and this processing routine. Exit. That is, the case where the ink cartridge 70 includes only the ink amount detected terminal 114 as shown in FIG.

  When the control circuit 40 determines in step S200 that the terminal A is not detected in the ink cartridge 70 to be determined (step S200: No), the terminal B is determined to be in the ink cartridge 70 to be determined. It is determined whether or not it has been detected (step S204).

  If the control circuit 40 determines that the terminal B has been detected (step S204: Yes), it determines that the determination target ink cartridge 70 is the ink cartridge S (step S205), and ends this processing routine. To do. That is, the case where the ink cartridge 70 includes only the ink amount detected terminal 115 as shown in FIG.

  If the control circuit 40 determines that the terminal B is not detected (step S204: No), it determines that there is no ink cartridge 70 to be determined (step S206), and ends this processing routine. . That is, the case where the ink cartridge 70 is not attached to the ink cartridge attachment portion of the printing apparatus 20 is applicable.

  According to the printing apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the type of the ink cartridge 70 is determined using the result of the ink amount detection process executed by the sensor control circuits M20a and M20b. be able to. In other words, the type of the ink cartridge 70 can be determined based on the combination of the ink amount detected terminals 114 and 115 provided in each ink cartridge 70. Therefore, in order to determine the type of the ink cartridge 70, the type of the ink cartridge 70 can be easily determined without using a dedicated terminal or the outer shape of the ink cartridge 70 as an individual shape.

Other examples:
In the above embodiment, the execution result of the ink amount detection process is used, that is, the result of the ink amount detection process is stored in the memory and the type of the ink cartridge 70 is determined. Alternatively, a voltage may be applied to the ink cartridge 70 for the ink cartridge type determination process. In this case, the ink cartridge type determination process described with reference to FIG. 8 is executed. First, the detection process of the terminal A is executed, and then the detection process of the terminal B is executed. By performing a process different from the ink amount detection process, the ink cartridge type determination process can be executed at an arbitrary timing, including the timing of the ink cartridge 70 being attached and detached.

  In the above embodiment, the result of the ink amount detection process is used, that is, the result of the ink amount detection process is stored in the memory and the type of the ink cartridge 70 is determined. A voltage may be applied to the ink cartridge 70 for the ink cartridge type determination process. In this case, the ink cartridge type determination process can be executed at an arbitrary timing, starting with the ink cartridge 70 detachment timing. For example, the ink cartridge type determination process may be executed according to the procedure of the ink amount detection process described above. Alternatively, the sensor control circuit M20a may be executed by inputting a drive voltage to the ink amount detected terminal 114 and receiving a response voltage with respect to the drive voltage at both the ink amount detection terminals 104 and 105.

  In the above-described embodiment, a piezoelectric element is used as the sensor 72, and a drive voltage is applied (charged) to the sensor 72 from the control circuit 40 via the cartridge processing control unit 100, and then discharged, whereby a response voltage ( Vibration amount) and the ink amount detection process is executed, but some response signal and response voltage are returned to the control circuit 40 in response to the input detection signal and drive voltage regardless of the amount of ink. Any sensor can be used. In this case, since the response signal and the response voltage are always returned from the ink amount detected terminals 114 and 115 to the ink amount detection terminals 104 and 105 in the ink amount detection process, depending on the combination of the response signal and the response voltage. The type of the ink cartridge 70 can be determined.

  In the above embodiment, the cartridge processing dedicated circuit 61 is provided in the printing apparatus 20, but the cartridge processing dedicated circuit 61 may be provided in the ink cartridge 70. The cartridge determination module M50 in the control circuit 40 may be provided in the ink cartridge 70.

  In the above embodiment, in the cartridge determination process, the ink capacity and the desired ink amount of the ink cartridge are determined, but other factors may be determined. For example, a high-quality print mode that uses one ink cartridge of 8 colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, light cyan, light magenta, light yellow, light black) and 4 colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) In a printing apparatus capable of switching the low image quality printing mode using two inks at a time, the type of ink color may be determined. In this way, it is possible to determine in the printing apparatus whether or not an appropriate ink cartridge 70 is mounted when executing each printing mode.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatus 20 includes two ink amount detection terminals 104 and 105, and uses two types of ink amount detection signals SD1 and SD2 to determine three types of ink cartridges and whether or not an ink cartridge is mounted. Although it can be determined (or four types of ink cartridges), three or more ink amount detection terminals may be provided and three or more types of ink amount detection signals may be used. In this case, more types of ink cartridges can be determined. Further, the printing apparatus 20 may include one ink amount detection terminal 104 and determine two types of ink cartridges using one type of ink amount detection signal SD1.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the ink cartridge 70 and the printing apparatus 20 to which the ink cartridge 70 is mounted. However, the present invention is not limited to the ink cartridge, and other print recording materials such as toner are accommodated. The same can be applied to the container and a printing apparatus on which the container is mounted.

  As described above, the printing apparatus and the method for determining the type of the printing material container according to the present invention have been described based on the examples and the modifications. However, the embodiments of the present invention described above are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and equivalents thereof are included in the present invention.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an aspect of mounting an ink cartridge to a print head unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows the contact terminal arrangement | sequence of the terminal board of the cartridge mounting part seen from the arrow Y2 direction in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a contacted terminal array of a circuit board of an ink cartridge as viewed from the direction of an arrow Y1 in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the electrical structure of a cartridge process exclusive circuit. It is a flowchart which shows the process routine performed in the ink amount detection process in a present Example. 6 is a time chart showing changes over time in a charge signal CS, a discharge signal DS, a remaining ink terminal voltage, a post-amplifier voltage, a comparator output, and a count clock in an ink amount detection process. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine executed in an ink cartridge type determination process according to the present embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

20 ... Printing device 22 ... Paper feed motor 23 ... Gear train 24 ... Carriage motor 26 ... Platen 30 ... Carriage 32 ... Operation panel 34 ... Sliding shaft 36. .. Drive belt 38 ... Pulley 39 ... Position sensor 40 ... Control circuit 56 ... Connector 60 ... Print head unit 61 ... Dedicated cartridge processing circuit 62 ... Cartridge mounting section 64. .. Mounting surface 65 ... Guide 66 ... Ink introduction part 68 ... Print head 70 ... Ink cartridge 71 ... Housing 72 ... Sensor (piezoelectric element)
73 ... Bottom 74 ... Ink supply port 90 ... Computer
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Terminal board 101, 103 ... Contact detection terminal 102 ... Grounding terminal 104, 105 ... Ink amount detection terminal 105 ... Grounding terminal 110 ... Circuit board 111, 113 ... Detection Terminal 112 ... Grounding terminal 114, 115 ... Ink amount detection terminal 116 ... Grounding terminal M10a, M10b ... Cartridge detection circuit M20a, M20b ... Sensor control circuit M50 ... Cartridge determination unit M100 ... cartridge processing control unit 232 ... amplifier 234 ... comparator 235 ... count control unit 236 ... counter 237 ... analog switch 238 ... voltage generation unit Tr1, Tr2 ... transistor R1 , R2 ... resistance

Claims (14)

A printing device capable of mounting a printing material container having a detected terminal used for detecting the amount of printing material stored therein and containing the printing material,
A detection terminal for detecting the amount of printing material accommodated in the printing material container;
A printing material container determining unit that detects contact or non-contact between the detection terminal and the detected terminal when the printing material container is mounted, and determines a type of the printing material container; Printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The printing apparatus is provided with a plurality of the detection terminals,
The printing material container is provided with one or more detected terminals,
The printing material container determining unit is a printing apparatus that determines a type of the printing material container based on a contact state between the plurality of detection terminals and the one or more detected terminals. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 further includes:
A printing material amount detection unit that applies a voltage to the detected terminal through the plurality of detection terminals and detects the amount of the printing material stored in the printing material collection body based on the voltage returned from the detected terminal. Prepared,
The printing material container determination unit is a combination of a detection terminal that detects a voltage returned from the detected terminal and a detection terminal that does not detect a voltage returned from the detected terminal among the plurality of detection terminals. A printing apparatus that determines the type of the printing material container as described above. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The type of the printing material container is a printing apparatus that is an initial amount of printing material to be stored. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The printing apparatus in which the type of the printing material container is a capacity type of the printing material container. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The type of the printing material container is a printing apparatus that is the type of printing material to be accommodated. A printing apparatus capable of mounting a printing material container including a printing material and a sensor for detecting the amount of printing material accommodated, and a detected terminal connected to the sensor,
A detection terminal for detecting the amount of printing material accommodated in the printing material container;
A drive voltage output circuit for outputting a drive voltage to drive the sensor to the detected terminal via the detection terminal;
Based on the response voltage from the sensor to the output drive voltage received by the detection terminal, contact or non-contact between the detection terminal and the detected terminal is detected, and the detected contact state A printing apparatus comprising: a printing material container determining unit that determines a type of the printing material container based on the printing material container. The printing apparatus according to claim 7.
The printing apparatus is provided with a plurality of the detection terminals,
The printing material container is provided with one or more detected terminals and a ground terminal,
The said printing material container determination part is a printing apparatus which determines the kind of the said printing material collection body by making into a contact aspect the number of the said detection terminals from which the said response voltage is detected among these detection terminals. The printing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8,
The printing apparatus is a sensor that detects a remaining amount of the printing material using a piezoelectric element. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
The type of the printing material container is a printing apparatus that is an initial amount of printing material to be stored. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
The printing apparatus in which the type of the printing material container is a capacity type of the printing material container. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
The type of the printing material container is a printing apparatus that is a type of printing material to be stored. A method of determining a type of a printing material container that can be used by being mounted on a printing apparatus, having a detected terminal that is used to detect the amount of printing material that is stored and containing the printing material,
When the printing material container is mounted, the presence or absence of contact between the detection terminal provided in the printing apparatus and the detected terminal is detected,
A method for determining a type of the mounted printing material container based on the detected presence or absence of contact. A printing material container that contains a printing material, has a sensor for detecting the amount of printing material contained, and a detected terminal connected to the sensor, and can be used by being mounted on a printing apparatus. A method for determining the type,
A drive voltage is output to drive the sensor with respect to the detected terminal via a detection terminal provided in the printing apparatus,
Detecting contact or non-contact between the detection terminal and the detected terminal based on a response voltage from the sensor to the output drive voltage received by the detection terminal;
A method for determining a type of the printing material container based on the detected contact mode.

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